Teacher Assistant- Imagination Station

Paladin Inc; Michigan City (IN); On-site; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Paladin Inc. is seeking a dedicated teacher assistant to support a Head Start classroom in Indiana. You will help create meaningful connections with children and families, implement approved curricula, and monitor development while maintaining a safe, engaging learning environment.

This role emphasizes collaboration with the Lead Teacher, strong communication with families, and adherence to program standards. A CDA credential or progress toward it is required with CPR/First Aid within 30 days.

Qualifications

• CDA credential or state CDA-equivalent or enrolled in a program leading to CDA within one year.
• Valid Driver’s License with liability insurance.
• Good verbal and written communications skills.
• CPR and First Aid certifications within 30 days from date of hire.

Responsibilities

• Support the lead teacher in organizing and preparing opportunities for children and families to create meaningful connections with the community.
• Maintain a safe environment with supervision of children and implement emergency procedures.
• Assist with planning on-going experiences that promote cognitive, social, emotional, linguistic, and physical development.
• Assist with submitting weekly lessons and unit plans aligned with goals and cross-content integration.
• Implement developmentally appropriate behavior management techniques and curricula in line with Paladin’s image of the child.
• Keep reports and documentation, including assessment data and conference notes.

Skills

Communication skills

CPR & First Aid

Safety consciousness

Teamwork

Education

CDA credential or state CDA equivalent

Tools

Child/family tracking software

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Nurture curiosity through purposeful experiences to create a future full of lifelong learners. Help to meet the diverse needs of our families in our program. Inspire children to be lifelong learners, implementing curriculum that promotes social, emotional, physical, verbal, and cognitive development. Committed to making their school successful and know that creating meaningful relationships with children, parents, and families play a crucial role in that success. Performs all job responsibilities in a safe manner. Complete duties with a positive attitude and with the intention of Paladin’s success. Teach and actively monitor children in the classroom. Become familiar with and implement positive discipline strategies, and curriculum when planning and setting up the classroom environment. Perform screenings and assessments on all children according to a particular time frame. Meaningfully interact daily with parents. Solicit volunteers for participation in the program. Conduct home visits (Head Start) and parent-teacher conferences throughout the school year. Integrate and analyze child assessment data for planning. Includes any other duties to help drive our vision, fulfill our mission, or support our organizational values.

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONAL UPON RESULTS OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Successful Drug Screening.
• Successful Physical Capacities Examination and TB screen results.
• Criminal History Background Clearance. PHYSICAL/MENTAL ABILITIES AND

PROCESSES:

• Ability to create a positive working environment for both children and colleagues.
• Physical capability, strength, and coordination adequate to work with preschool children including kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor.
• Word processing, database, Internet, spreadsheets, and email.
• Ability to assist in maintaining computerized records for child/family tracking system.
• Ability to visually assess the health and behaviors of children.
• Assist with frequent significant decisions to assure developmental progress of children.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise preschool children and ensure a safe learning environment including the ability to monitor and respond to events always going on in classroom, outdoor play areas and on field trips. This includes the ability to move quickly to respond to very active children and to redirect or physically remove a child to ensure their safety or the safety of others in the environment.
• Ability to utilize teacher preparation time effectively.
• Ability to exercise professional conduct in the workplace.
• Conduct oneself with decorum while representing Paladin.
• Ability to respond appropriately (mentally and physically) to an emergency or a crisis.
• Uphold mandated reporting responsibilities as legally required by the State of Indiana.
• Assure that a positive image of Paladin is always portrayed.
• Occasional driving for training and job responsibility requirements.
• Occasional lifting of more than 50 lbs., occasionally placing children into seats and ability to carry or drag a child in an emergency to a safe area.
• Occasional climbing steps to enter and exit bus.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• At minimum, Teacher assistants are to have a CDA credential or a state-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential or are enrolled in a program that will lead to a CDA within one year of the time of hire.
• Valid Driver’s License and access to a privately-owned vehicle with liability insurance for use in completing work responsibilities as required.
• Good verbal and written communications skills.
• Must have Adult and Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certifications within 30 days from date of hire.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Classroom Management, Intentional Planning, and Meaningful Assessment

• Support the lead teacher in organizing and preparing opportunities for children and families to create meaningful connections with community.
• Always provides a safe environment with supervision of children, consistently applying active supervision and emergency procedures.
• Assist with planning intentional on-going experiences that enhance the cognitive, social, emotional, linguistic, and physical development of young children in cooperation with the Lead teacher.
• Assist with submitting weekly lessons and unit plans that support each child’s identified goals, in cooperation with the Lead Teacher, which reflects an integrated approach across all content areas.
• Assist with endorsing and implementing curriculum in alignment with Indiana Early Learning, and Head Start standards.
• Support the lead teacher in implementing developmentally appropriate behavior management techniques, including Conscious Discipline in alignment with Paladin’s image of the child.
• Keep necessary reports and documentation, including but not limited to, assessment data, developmental screening, behavior intervention plans, and conference notes.
• Appropriately implements CACFP procedures and complies with all USDA laws. Family

Family Engagement and Partnerships

• Assist the lead teacher with planning for, utilizing and training volunteers for the classroom, playground, gross motor area and field trips.
• Assist lead teacher with providing parents opportunities to give input into the daily curriculum and document input on lesson plans.
• Assist the lead teacher with planning and implementing meaningful parent engagement opportunities.
• Attend Parent Meetings.
• Build respectful, culturally responsive, and trusting relationships with families.

Professionalism

• Engage in effective collegial relationships.
• Interact with other staff using the highest standards of professionalism.
• Supports team by providing coverage for breaks, lunches, and illnesses as needed.
• Follow all agency policies and procedures.
• Organize time to allow for planning, preparation, and parent/teacher conferences.
• Responsive to mentor/coaching/management feedback. Demonstrate a willingness to assist lead teacher with implementing new strategies.
• Provide customer service in reception, greet, and direct visitors at the site.
• Perform other relevant responsibilities as required by the program or assigned by supervisor.
• Assist teacher in maintaining a clean, sanitary, safe, and welcoming classroom.
• Model the respectful workplace policy when interacting with Paladin clients, community members, and colleagues.
• Must be responsible, able to handle confidential material, able to organize effectively and able to work independently.
• Assure that a positive image of the Paladin is always portrayed.

Training responsibilities

• Maintain current, valid driver’s license and liability insurance always on any personal vehicle used to conduct Paladin business.
• Obtain and keep current Adult and Pediatric CPR and First Aid certifications.
• Complete 15 credit hours in ECE and a minimum of 20 hours continuing education, based on individualized professional development plan.

I hereby certify that I have received, read, and understand the essential duties and responsibilities expected of me from Paladin this ________day of ____________, 20 ___.